Birthday celebration turns into fundraiser for hospital

A BIRTHDAY celebration turned into a fundraising event at Treetops Hotel.

Madge Faraday celebrated her 90th birthday at the hotel by encouraging her guests to give donations to Alder Hey, instead of gifts.

She credits the much-loved children’s hospital with saving her life after she contracted double pneumonia in 1923 – which affected both her lungs at the age of six. She spent three months battling to get well at a time when antibiotics were not available to treat the illness.

At the event she thanked everyone for coming and said: “Those who survive the next 10 years are invited to my 100th!”

Mrs Faraday, who was born in Litherland but moved to Southport in 1959, added: “I remember being taken in by ambulance and it was very dicey for a while.

“Hospitals were very strict in those days but they must have done me some good because I’ve been in excellent health ever since.”